Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BAC~GROUND OF THE lNV~h-lON 2~8258 7
Field of Invention
This invention relates to a drum used for
transporting goods, and more particularly to a steel drum
for containing material including liquid or semi-liquid
materials which is reusable and/or recyclicable.
Description of Prior Art
Cylindrical containers such as steel drums have been
used for a long time as a means of storing or
transporting a variety of materials including powdery or
granular solids, or liquids and semi liquids. These
containers are built to withstand the exigencies of
transit. The materials stored in them are removed by
first removing the top of the containers and then pouring
or pumping the materials out.
Drums are sometimes used to store so-called semi-
liquid materials such as adhesives, lubricants, hazardous
material or other material that would contaminate or
leave contaminants on the interior surface thereof. This
may involve materials which are basically meltable
plastics which may be poured therein. These materials
solidify upon cooling. To remove the material one uses
a machine with a plunger, which is heated and equipped
; with an "O" ring type of seal. After removing the top
cover, and disc seal, the drum is ready for emptying the
contents. As the plunger is pushed downwardly into the
drum, the heater melts and liquifies the materials and
as the plunger moves downwardly, the material is pumped
I out through the plunger and put into the manufacturlng
process.
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When the plunger gets toward the bottom of the drum,
there remains a small amount of material which cannot be
pumped out but is left in the bottom of the container
after the plunger heating system has been removed. Such
drums are normally used once and then discarded since the
interior has become contaminated with the material it
contained. Disposal and even recycling of such drums
because of this is difficult. It has become desirable
to provide drums however that may be reused or subject
to recycling.
Moreover, steel drums are typically made of a heavy
gauge metal and are relatively expensive. In view of the
shipped material contaminating the interior surface of
the drum, reuse is not possible, recycling is difficult
and disposal may require special handling.
OBJE~.lv~8 AND 8UMMARY OF THE lNv~.~lON
It is therefore a principle object of the invention
to provide for a steel drum which is reusable and/or
constructed such that it facilitates recycling.
Other objectives and advantages of the invention
shall become apparent in the description of the
invention.
The above objectives are attained by a metal (steel)
,~ drum having a straight sidewall steel shell open at both
ends, a curl portion at each end. The drum is formed
with a special liner which becomes the removable element.
In this regard, the liner comprises a fibre stock
silicone-coated sheet which is positioned around the
inside surface of the drum. This sheet may also be foil
I parchment, a wax covered etc. depending upon its
298~5~7
compatibility with the contents. Metal chimes are placed
on the top and bottom to hold the liner in place and
lined covers are fastened. The drum can now be used to
contain a wide variety of material. If after use the end
user wishes to reuse the drum for a different product
the top and bottom covers are removed. To remove the
lining, the top and bottom chimes are removed. It is now
possible to lift out the lining which may be disposed of
and the lining replaced and chimes added. The covers
which may be similarly lined with a removable portion
which is stripped therefrom and replaced with the covers
reattached. The drum could now be used to contain other
material.
BRIBF DB8CRIPTION OF THB DRA~ING8
Thus by the present invention, its objects and
advantages will be realized, the description of which
should be taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reusable drum
incorporating the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a sectional somewhat exploded view
of the reusable drum incorporating the teachings of the
present invention;
Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the upper portion
of the reusable drum showing a metal chime being placed
thereon, incorporating the teachings of the present
invention;
Figures 4a & 4b show a sectional view of the
reusable drum prior to and after affixing covers thereon,
incorporating the teachings of the present invention;
¦ Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the reusable drum
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having a replaced lining therein, incorporating the
teachings of the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the reusable drum
having an alternate chime arrangement, incorporating the
teachings of the present invention; and
Figure 7 is a top sectional view of the reusable
drum showing removal of the chime, incorporating the
teachings of the present invention.
DETAILED DE8CRIPTION OF THE PREF~RR~D EMBODIM~NT
Turning now more particularly to the drawings, there
is shown a drum 10 which comprises a cylindrical shell
12 made out of metal such as heavy gauge steel. The drum
10 includes two detachable covers 14 and 16 which are
affixed to the shell 14 by way of locking rings.
The drum 10 illustrated may be used to contain a
liquid or semi-liquid material which is extracted
therefrom by way of a plunger device such as that
illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,412,903 to Van Riper Jr.
The top and bottom of shell 12 terminate in a rolled edge
or curl 18 to which a cover is affixed as will be
discussed. Disposed about the internal surface of shell
12 is a liner 20 which may be made of silicone coated
fibre or any other material suitable for purpose. The
liner 20 should be impermeable to the material to be
contained by the drum 10. If the liner 20 is in the form
of a sheet then the ends thereof can be taped together.
Once the liner 20 is in place then it is held in
position by way of the following. As shown in figures
2 and 3, metal chimes 22 and 24 are positioned on the
curl 18 and extend into the shell's interior and over a
20 8 2 5 ~3 7
portion of liner 20. At this point an expanding block
26, which i8 generally illustrated in figure 3, crimps
the assembled components together expanding the chi~es
22 and 24, liner 20 and shell 12 outwardly as shown in
figure 3 forming an offset 25 in the shell 12. This
secures the liner 20 to the inside of shell 12.
At this point covers 14 and 16 may be affixed as
shown in figures 4a and 4b. In this regard covers 14 and
16 are made of metal and are disk shaped having a loop
portion 26 about their periphery. Portion 26 includes
a gasket 28 and is adapted to fit over the respective
chimes and curl 18 of the shell 12 as shown in figures
4a & 4b. Prior to attaching the covers 14 and 16, a
sealing disc 30 is provided, which again may be silicone
coated fibre. As can be seen in the figures, disc 30
adapts to the shape of portion 26 and curl 18 upon
securing the covers to the shell.
The bottom cover 16 may be affixed by way of a
bolted closing ring 32. The top cover 14 may be
removably attached to the top of the shell 12 by way of
a closing ring 34 which is more readily opened so that
the material to be contained can be placed therein and
accessed easily. Thus with the foregoing arrangement the
entire interior surface of drum 10 is prevented from
contacting the contained material.
Once the drum 10 is depleted of its material, to
reuse the drum the following steps are taken. Remove the
top and bottom covers 14 and 16 and discard sealing disks
30 replacing them with fresh disks. By removing chimes
22 and 24, the liner 20 can then be removed and disposed
of. The shell interior is now fresh and uncontaminated.
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A new liner 20' can then be placed in the interior with
new chimes 22' and 24' (22' only shown in figures 5 and
6) crimped into the existing offsets 25 securing the new
liner 20' to the shell 12. The covers 14 and 16 with new
sealing disk can then be attached. The drum 10 now has
a completely clean interior that can be used to contain
new material, thus readily allowing the reuse of the
metal drum. Alternatively, if the lining is not going
to be replaced, it can be removed and disposed of
properly. The steel drum can be separately disposed of
and/or recycled without the degree of handling required
by the liner since the former is free of contaminants.
Turning now to figures 6 and 7, in this embodiment
a flat steel chime 36 is used. In this regard, after the
liner 20 is placed on the shell's 12 interior, t~e flat
chime 36 is expanded outward as before along with a
portion of the steel shell 12 to create the offset 25.
This would be done adjacent to the top and bottom of the
shell 12. The covers 14 and 16 would be of the same
construction and would be attached as before.
To remove the flat chime 36, it is forced a~ay from
the shell 12 as shown in figure 7, and lifted out. With
both chimes removed the liner 20 can be replaced. New
flat chimes 36 can be placed or snapped against the
replacement liner in the offsets 25 at each end of the
shell 12. These new chimes 36 can be expanded outward
as is necessary to secure the new liner to the shell 12.
The liners of the covers are replaced and reattached to
the shell completing the drum.
Thus by the present invention its objects and
advantages are realized and although preferred
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embodiments have been disclosed and described in detail
herein its scope should not be limited thereby rather its
scope should be determined by that of the appended
claims.
